noun. Definition: 1. any of the similar units, as a group of clans, of a primitive tribe. A phratry is a term for a kinship division consisting of two or more distinct clans, which are considered a single unit, but retain separate identities within the tribe.

Est. 2004 in Cincinnati, Ohio with just over 50 releases to date, and working with bands across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, Phratry Records is an underground label focused on art and community. Phratry continues the tradition of DIY, independent record labels and owes a considerable debt to labels such as SST, Touch & Go, Dischord, Amphetamine Reptile and more. Uninterested in being a genre-specific record label, Phratry boasts a diverse catalogeverything from rock, punk, metal and noise to folk, indie rock and contemporary classicalby artists who share decidedly non-mainstream ethos.

In an increasingly saturated and hyper-commercialized industry, Phratry Records remains true to the tradition of underground labels by releasing music for the sake of music and for the sake of community. Each release is viewed as an artistic endeavornot as a commodity.

Unaffected by trends, Phratry Records proudly and enthusiastically offers a number of its releases in multiple formatsfrom vinyl to digital and yes, even compact discswith a high emphasis placed on physical releases, album artwork and packaging.

The Phratry Records logo is inspired by the art of the Northwest Coast American Indians who, like many indigenous cultures, revere art as an integral part of life. The images and symbols represent the relationship between the spiritual world in which ideas are conceived and the physical world in which they are realized.